DMW: Deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait resumes

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Kuwaiti authorities have agreed to resume the deployment of Filipino skilled and domestic workers to the Middle Eastern country, according to Migrant Workers chief Hans Leo Cacdac.

In a press briefing, Cacdac said Undersecretary Bernard Olalia met with Kuwait officials, the Ministry of Interior and Industry of Foreign Affairs, and other government officers to discuss the matter after the ban on Filipino workers’ deployment, which lasted for over a year.

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“Kung magbalik tanaw tayo, bungsod ng [Jullebee] Ranara case, nagkaroon ng deferment of deployment in February last year at Mayo from the Kuwaiti side, nagkaroon ng ban on deployment for all types of workers including the skilled workers and non domestic workers,” the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) chief said.

(If we look back at the end of the [Jullebee] Ranara case, there was a deferment of deployment in February last year, and in May from the Kuwaiti side, there was a ban on deployment for all types of workers, including the skilled workers and non-domestic workers.)

“No less than the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior ay nagkaroon ng paguusap tungo sa pagpayag mula sa pagbubukas muli ng deployment ng skilled workers in Kuwait, non-domestic workers,” he added.

(No less than the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior gave its consent to reopening the deployment of skilled workers in Kuwait, as well as non-domestic workers.)

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The DMW chief said Kuwait agreed to the deployment of newly hired skilled workers, but preferred those with experience for domestic workers.

He added that both countries will draft a new regulation related to the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait, the whitelisting of license recruiters, electronic salary, and the establishment of joint working groups.